With snow, sleet, and icy conditions in the forecast for parts of Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative’s four-county service area, now is the time to prepare for possible inclement weather, which presents the chance for power outages.

When tree limbs break as a result of the ice and fall on the power lines, outages are possible. With a forecast of frozen precipitation, it is a good idea to make sure that your cell phone, if you have one, is completely charged in the event of an outage. SVEC makes all efforts to have power restored to consumers as quickly and safely as possible, and would like to offer these tips in case of an outage:

Call SVEC at 1-800-234-7832, even if you think your neighbor may have called. It is more effective for SVEC to know where all outages are.

To make sure you and your family have the necessities for an outage, SVEC advises that you prepare a home outage kit. Good items to include are:

- Flashlights and extra batteries

- A battery operated radio

- Candles or lanterns and matches

- An alternate source of heat

- Canned or packaged foods, powered milk and beverages, dry cereal

- Water (one gallon per person per day for drinking; fill bathtub and other containers for flushing toilets and other needs)

- Non-electric can opener

- Disposable plates and utensils

- Camp stove or other emergency cooking device

- Extra blankets or sleeping bags

- Fire extinguisher

- First aid kit

- If needed, extra baby food, formula, diapers

Chartered in 1936, SVEC serves member-owners in Augusta, Rockingham, and Shenandoah counties in Virginia and Hardy County in West Virginia. SVEC was the first electric cooperative chartered in Virginia.